We had some amazing speakers join us. PWAC veterans like Guenther Krueger passed on their writing advice while PWAC Fraser Valley member Stephanie Lasuik spoke to us about how to cope with a contract dispute. We even had the honour of hosting editors Lisa Manfield of BC Living and Andrea Vance of WestCoast Families, who educated us on what editors want from their writers.

At the end of the day, we received amazing feedback from those in attendance. We heard things like, “In the first ten minutes, I got my money’s worth,” and “I’m so glad I came today,” and best of all, “You PWAC people are so nice!” After the event, we chatted, mused on all things writing and threw around article ideas.

We hope to offer more of these events in the future, so please feel free to email and suggest topics for our next PD Day, which we hope to hold in the fall.

Thanks again to everyone who worked hard to make our Professional Development day such a large success.

-Kelly Thompson, PWAC Vancouver President

1. Executive Elections

I, Kelly Thompson, will remain as Chapter President. New professional member Mirey Faema has joined the board as Chapter Vice President. David Conn will remain on as Membership Coordinator and Heather Kent will remain the Treasurer. We still have room for a Communications Manager, should anyone wish to join the executive.

2. 27 April, PD Day

Members are encouraged to register online for our Professional Development Day on 27 April at the VSO School of Music, 843 Seymour Street. Seating is limited! Those registering as students are required to bring valid student ID.

3. Summer Party

Mark your calendars! Our summer party will be held on Sunday, 21 July at Guenther Krueger’s house. More details to follow.

4. Membership

PWAC Vancouver has seen a surge in membership over the last two months and we’re pleased to welcome all of the new writers to the fold. This increased membership means PWAC Vancouver is able to send 5 delegates to the national AGM in Toronto at MagNet. Delegates will have their airfare costs over $175 covered by PWAC National and will receive a stipend from the chapter as well.

5. National AGM Delagates

Those representing PWAC Vancouver at the National AGM are Kelly Thompson, Mirey Faema and Guenther Krueger. Please email me within the next two weeks if you would like to serve as a delegate at the National AGM, as I am required to submit these numbers to National Office.

6. PWAC Presence

PWAC Vancouver has renewed the online presence of the chapter through the blog, Facebook and Twitter. We are busy connecting with local writing programs (at Douglas College, Langara, Capilano and UBC to name a few) as well as other associations such as MagsBC, the Society for Technical Communication, Editors’ Association of Canada and others. We hope that these new connections will boost membership and allow us to engage and network with other professionals in the writing, publishing and freelance business.

7. Writer Retreat

Jointly with Fraser Valley and Victoria, PWAC Vancouver is looking to hold another writer retreat in Spring 2014, potentially on Salt Spring Island or another area nearby. We hope to recreate a sense of community for our writers and provide more opportunities to connect with one another. Stay turned for more information.

Thank you all for your time and please feel free to email me at kellythompson(at)keystonetext(dot)ca, should you have any questions.

-Kelly Thompson, PWAC Vancouver President

WRITER COLLEAGUES:

YOU’RE INVITED!

• WHAT: ANNUAL BC Association of Travel Writer’s SYMPOSIUM
• WHEN: MAY 11, 2013   11:30-4:00
• WHERE: Vancouver’s LISTEL HOTEL 1300 Robson St Vancouver, BC V6E 1C5
• COST: $40 non members; $20 BCATW members, includes taxes, refreshments & the day…
• TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT: Make your cheque payable to “BC Association of Travel Writers” and mail it to Baila Lazarus,Treasurer. BC Association of Travel Writers, PH3 1433 East 1^st Ave.
Vancouver, BC
V5N 1A4 OR

use PayPal at www.bcatw.org under ‘events.’

PROGRAM HIGHLGHTS:

KEY NOTE: MICHAEL DE FREITAS: www.iwritetravel.com/

• Marketing Writing: The Whys, How’s & Where’s of Selling Your Stories Internationally
• Round Table Discussions on varied topics e.g. book publishing
• Prize Draws
• Refreshments

Check out future updates at www.bcatw.org/

Details are below:

Where: VSO School of Music, 843 Seymour Street Vancouver, Second Floor – Arthur H. Willms Salon

When: Saturday 27 April, 2013, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm

Panels:

1. Furthering Your Freelance Career – 9:30 am – 10:30 am: Panelists will be Heidi Turner and Guenther Krueger

BREAK- 10:30 – 10:45

2. Writing for a Niche Market- 10:45 am – 11:45 pm: Panelists will be Kelly Thompson, Kathleen Rake and Autumn Jonssen

Cost will be $20 for members, $25 for non-members and $15 for students. We will also provide the opportunity to pay online through PayPal!
Please select from one of the three options below for members, non members and students.

PWAC Member – $20

Non Member – $25

Students – $15

If you are interested in being a delegate for the National PWAC AGM (with some of the travel costs reimbursed by both National and Chapter offices), then please send me an email advising why you would like to serve as a delegate. We have 4 slots for members to attend.

I look forward to seeing you all there.

Kelly Thompson
PWAC Vancouver President
kellythompson@keystonetext.ca

Remembering Shirley Hewett

Five years ago, PWAC Victoria lost a true pioneer. Last week, her daughter Kari wrote to me on behalf of herself and her family saying: “Please extend our appreciation and very belated gratitude to everyone who called or sent in well wishes after Mum died. It was a crazy, difficult, busy time and I don’t think anyone of us properly thanked people. PWAC meant so much to Mum, as did the fun and collegiality of your events. I felt honoured to be included in some of them, and still very identify as a “daughter of PWAC.”

Shirley was a passionate and vocal member of the Victoria chapter, but often came over to Vancouver to connect with people here. I first met her shortly after I joined…somewhere around 1989 or so, memory fails me a bit. We had a small rag-tag group of people here and she encouraged me to build up the ranks and stay connected with others nationally. When I visited Victoria, I would sometimes spend time in her ramshackle cottage on the water. We joked about how much the property was worth and commiserated about how we were working too hard for too little money as we poured another glass of wine.

Shirley died five years ago but I have stayed in touch with Kari, who lives here in Vancouver. She is every bit as eclectic and passionate about social justice issues as her mother was. I always think that organizations are made of those who believe in the cause and do something about it and others who tag along for the ride. Feisty, frank, forthright. Shirley was definitely right at the helm, always waving a flag, the noisiest of the bunch. I know that many of you will remember her fondly as I do.

We spent the night at Steamworks Pub, enjoying each others’ company and talking all things writing. Before we knew it, two hours had passed! We came, we ate and we laughed. It was a great night of networking and friend-making.

Best of all, we welcomed new student member, Connie Behl, who won the draw for the free annual student membership for PWAC. We’re so happy to have her as part of the organization and as a student of the Print Futures program at Douglas College, we’re sure to see amazing things from her. We hope her membership with us will help her break into the world of writing and give her the support that all fledgling writers need early on in their careers.

Until next time, I look forward to seeing more and more people turn out for our monthly socials.

Kelly Thompson, PWAC Vancouver President

From left to right, Print Futures Student, Jeff from Print Futures, President Kelly Thompson, Past President Michelle Clough and Membership Coordinator David Conn

Last night was a great night for the chapter, as we had our first PWAC Vancouver monthly social at Steamworks Pub downtown. More social networking events are something that our members have been asking for and so we’ve been looking to provide more opportunities to chat with your fellow writers and others in the business.

The night was a great success with thirteen people in attendance with a mix of about half current members and half from the Douglas College Print Futures program, who heard about the event through social media channels. It provided us all an opportunity to ask questions, learn about what is currently being taught in writing programs in Canada and for the students to meet a successful graduate of their program; Regional Director Heidi Turner.

We came, we laughed and we socialized. And then we got down to business: Sharing our most inspiring or heartbreaking rejections letters/stories from years in the writing business. It served as a great reminder of how far we’ve all come in our careers but also, the importance of continuing to pitch in order to maintain a successful business.

Past President Michelle Clough, Membership Coordinator David Conn and Regional Director Heidi Turner

Freelancing can be solitary work and the benefits of casual socializing events can’t be stressed enough. It’s always a pleasure to talk with students new to the business, who bring passion and excitement to the world of writing, and equally wonderful to see our experienced writers pass down advice from their own careers.

Our next event will be February 7th, so check in at our Facebook and Twitter pages for more details. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Kelly Thompson- PWAC Vancouver President

Happy New Year to all PWAC Vancouver members and hopefully this holiday season has brought joy and a bit of time to sit back and relax with your loved ones. I come to you in my first official duty as the Vancouver Chapter President, as our previous illustrious leader, the wonderful Michelle Clough, has decided to step down to pursue other passions. Thankfully, her knowledge and support will remain with the chapter as she will stay on as Past President. As Vice Presidents do, I’ll be taking over as President and regular elections will be held in April for all executive positions. That being said, if you would like to volunteer to help now, we are more than happy to get others involved in this exciting chapter before regular election time.

We’re looking to make this a great year for PWAC Vancouver, increasing our online presence and providing more opportunities for members to engage and network, both at fun social events as well as professional development seminars, which are sure to benefit any writers’ business. Furthermore, our continued coordination with Magazines BC, thanks to our Regional Director, Heidi Turner, is going to provide even more opportunities to connect with others in the magazine business, namely, those who will employ us.

In the meantime, the PWAC Vancouver executive has been working hard to find new and exciting ways to engage members while boosting membership. Obviously, the ways of technology indicate that social media presence is a must and we are answering the call with a new and enhanced social media plan. So you will notice us Tweeting, participating on Facebook and posting regularly to this blog (with a new look!) to keep our members in the loop. Please be sure to “Like” us on Facebook and “Follow” us on Twitter and we’ll be sure to return the favour! We will also provide information updates and meeting notes on the blog so that all members can access the information if they happen to miss a meeting.

Furthermore, we’ve also decided to hold monthly socials on the second Thursday of every month, with the first to take place Thursday, January 10th at 6:30 pm at Steamworks, downtown Vancouver. We also hope to occasionally collaborate with Remy Scalza’s group of freelancers at these socials, further widening our networking scope. So please come armed with your best rejection letter (winner gets a free beer!) and mingle with your fellow writers. Please note, February’s social will be on the first Thursday of the month, 7 Feb, since the following week is Valentine’s day.

All this to say, there is a lot to look forward to in 2013. So to my fellow writers, I wish you the best New Year’s Day possible and hope to meet all of you soon.

Kelly Thompson, PWAC Vancouver President

Michelle: “Attending the AGM drove home to me why I became a member of PWAC in the first place. Not only did we have the opportunity to receive some fascinating and informative professional development training, but we were able to forge some deep and lasting connections with our peers. Everyone we met was friendly, welcoming and encouraging to new attendees and new PWAC members alike. Whether you’re an old hand at professional writing or a fresh new enthusiast just starting out, the PWAC AGM is definitely worth attending.”

 Kim: “PWAC’s National Conference & AGM in Montreal was a rewarding experience both professionally and personally. We were able to learn and hear from other writers, who provided practical information we could put to immediate use, as well as forge new friendships. Every day was well organized and flowed seamlessly. Carole Beaulieu (Editor-in-Chief, L’actualité), the keynote speaker at PWAC’s Gala Awards Ceremony & Banquet, was brilliant. She was warm and confident, had provocative ideas, and gave a room full of writers hope for the future. We look forward to seeing you at next year’s conference.

Friday: Business of Writing and Bylaw Discussion

This past June, PWAC Quebec hosted the 2011 National Conference and AGM. This conference that helped our national organization celebrate its 35th year, began on Friday with the first day of professional development.  Entitled “Writing is a Business,” the session was well worth attending and provided a great start to an all-day affair. Claude Brunet focused on contracts and copyright law while Warren Sheffer talked about small claims court. Our presenters, both experienced lawyers, helped navigate areas of concern for professional writers.
From negotiating contracts to determining when to back away/off, Claude and Warren provided much needed insight and guidance.

Later that afternoon delegates reviewed the proposed changes to PWAC’s constitution. Many of you are already familiar with the key by-law
amendments that have been made. Here’s a recap:

Two new categories of membership have been introduced:

Honorary Lifetime Membership is awarded by resolution of the Board of Directors to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the writing or publishing industry. This category will carry no annual membership fee.

Emeritus Membership is available to members who have reached “Factor 90,” which means that the applicant’s age (expressed in years) plus the number of years the applicant has been a professional member of the association must result in a total of at least ninety (90). Members must
apply for emeritus membership; it will not be automatically granted when a member reaches “Factor 90.” At the AGM, members passed a motion that that the annual fee will be 75% of the annual fee paid by Professional Members of the association. This fee reduction will be reassessed in a few years to determine its financial impact on the association.

The Student Member category now allows individuals who graduated from a post-secondary within the past 12 months to qualify for this category of membership, thereby allowing them some time to build up a writing portfolio after graduation so they can quality as Associate or Professional members.

Two-year terms for Board positions have been introduced. The old by-law provided for one-year terms. Eight consecutive years now constitute the maximum time an individual can serve on the Board. This was previously six years.

Residency requirements for Board members have been introduced.

The election processes for RDs and other Board members are more clearly outlined, as is the process for filling the ex-officio position of
Past President, and the process for filling any vacancies that occur in between AGMs.

The processes for calling meetings (Board meetings, AGMs, and special general meetings) are more clearly defined, as are quorums for meetings.

A “duty of fairness” clause has been introduced. It applies to all decisions made by the Board and the members of the association in terms of the dealings/business of the corporation.

In addition to the above, many minor amendments were made in order to clarify wording and to create a document that is easier to read and understand. PWAC looks forward to receiving approval from Corporations Canada, and to implementing the new by-law.

After that, it was out to enjoy the cuisine of Montreal in Restaurant Roulette as PWAC members grouped off with local chapter guides to
try a variety of ethnic restaurants, from Vietnamese to Italian to French. Once bellies were full, we joined with Kathe Lieber for an impromptu performance of A Comedy of Errors and a lot of wine and song.

Saturday: Professional Development Sessions and the PWAC Gala

Saturday was dedicated to a series of useful professional development sessions:

Editors Panel with Susan Nerberg (Deputy Editor, enRoute), Drew Nelles (Editor in Chief, Maisonneuve) and Carmine Starnino(Senior Editor,
Reader’s Digest)

Writing for Trade Magazines: Breaking In and Staying In* with Suzanne Boles

Unleash Your Inner Entrepreneur: Panel with Hugh McGuire, Ben Yoskovitz, Craig Silverman & Geeta Nadkarni

Medical Writing* with Amanda Strong and Giancarlo La Giorgia

Computer-Assisted Reporting in 2011: A Journalist’s Guide to Twitter, Facebook, and New Mobile Tools* with Elias Makos

The Pitch of your Life: Writing Book Proposals with Julie Barlow

On Solid Grounds: Write to Live* with Jean-Benoit Nadeau

Travel & Food Writing with Alexandra Forbes

We attended the same professional development sessions (*) and both agreed that, by far, the best one of the day was Elias Makos’ session
on social media and other digital tools. It was informative and broke these huge topics down into manageable bites that made us want to hop onto Twitter. All of the panels had useful information, however. For those who are interested in learning more about trade magazines, medical writing, social media tools and writing negotiation, Michelle has typed up some rough but detailed notes that can be found here; while not in polished form, they provide useful links and overviews.

The evening’s Annual Gala recognized the efforts of regional volunteers who go the extra mile for PWAC. Awards were given to Alison
Finnamore and Kym Wolfe of the Atlantic and Ontario Regions, respectively, while George Butters received the 2011 Lawrence Jackson Outstanding Achievement Award. The winners of this year’s PWAC writing awards were Georgie Binks, Melissa Martin and Beverley Akerman who were recognized for their outstanding humour, feature and short articles respectively.

The keynote speaker was Carole Beaulieu, Editor-in-Chief for L’Actualité. She discussed the issues facing the magazine industry as digital replaces traditional, but expressed a lot of hope for the future. She pointed out that her own magazine, like many others, are finding ways to adapt to the digital marketplace and carving out niches on iPad, iPhone and others. She also pointed to the rise of “bookazines” in Europe, magazines designed to function as luxury items or “coffee table books” and featuring high quality photographs and several long features (10,000 words plus). Perhaps, she suggests, magazines will find a new niche as a speciality market, one that writers will be able to work with once more.

Sunday: Annual General Meeting

Members decided at the Sunday AGM to hold our National Conference and AGM in conjunction with MagNet in Toronto for the next three
years. PWAC Quebec, along with Executive Director Sandy Crawley, Associate Director Lauren Stewart, the PWAC Board of Directors and a host of members and volunteers worked tirelessly to help steer us in this direction.

At the Annual General Meeting, our President, Tanya Gulliver, stepped down after an unprecedented three year term, and our own Craig Silverman was applauded as PWAC’s new President. The following members form the 2011/2012 National Board of Directors:

President: Craig Silverman

Vice President:  Doreen Pendgracs

Treasurer: Rusti Lehay

Atlantic Regional Director: Ross Mavis

British Columbia: Heidi Turner

Ontario: Christine Peets

Prairies & the North: Michelle Greysen

Quebec: Jenn Hardy